The Asari (Second Human Empire: Aikkler Covvine'mal), a humanoid species native to the planet Thessia, They are often considered the most powerful and respected sentient species in the Riz'ro Milky Way galaxy, and wereknown for their elegance, diplomacy, and biotic aptitude. This is partly due to the fact that the asari were among the earliest races to achieve interstellar flight after the Protheans, and the first to discover and settle the Citadel.
A mono-gender race, the Asari are distinctly feminine in appearance and possess maternal instincts. Their unique physiology, expressed in a millennia-long lifespan and the ability to reproduce with a partner of any gender or species, gives them a conservative yet convivial attitude toward other races. Favoring compromise and cooperation over conflict, the Asari were instrumental in proposing and founding the Citadel Council and have been at the heart of galactic society ever since.
Although some remain neutral, most Asari align themselves with the Alliance of Nations after the Reaper War and the Invasion .
Biology[]
The Asari are humanoids who resemble humans by appearance with five digits on each hand and feet, only their skin ranges from blue to purple complexion, though a teal complexion is possible albeit seemingly rare. Some Asari, such as Matriarch Lidanya, Matriarch Benezia, Liara T'Soni, and Tela Vasir have facial markings, which are unique colored patterns that vary for every Asari. Some of these facial markings resemble the eyebrows that humans have, but the asari do not think of the markings as such themselves. In the place of head hair, asari possess semi-flexible, cartilage-based scalp-crests that grow into shape. These structures are rigid, and do not "flop around" as some believe. Asari have navels as well as breasts that continue to grow with age. Asari also have a robust cellular regenerative system; while they do not heal faster than other species, they are known to reach over 1000 years of age. This long lifespan rivaled only by the krogan and Hutt, though, small compared to other races who live for thousands of years beyond the Asari lifespan. Asari can see ultraviolet at the short-wavelength end of the spectrum. Asari blood is purple.
There is some conflicting information regarding the gender of the Asari as they are a mono-gendered species with no concept of gender differences. At the same time, Asari are often referred to as if they are an all-female race. To some such as Humans at least, Asari appear female with feminine physical characteristics and voices. Even among the Asari, many individual Asari are referred to as “she” and “her“ but some asari prefer male pronouns, while others gravitate toward gender-neutral where language allows. Asari also bear feminine titles like “huntress” and “matriarch” and Asari offspring are referred to as “daughters“; however, they may have chosen feminine pronouns to simplify language translations, or the terms themselves are simply the result of imperfect translation, deliberate or otherwise.
However Asari gender is defined, they are innately different from humanoid species, for Asari can mate and successfully reproduce with any other gender or species through a form of parthenogenesis. Although they have one gender, they are not asexual and do in fact require a partner to reproduce. However, Asari reproduction is very different from other forms of sexual reproduction. An Asari provides two copies of her own genes to her offspring, one of which is passed on unaltered. The second set of genes is altered in a unique process called melding, also known as the joining or the union. During melding, the eyes of the asari initiating the meld dilate as she consciously attunes her nervous system to her partner's, sending and receiving electrical impulses directly through the skin, however physical contact is not strictly necessary. A common phrase used before melding is "embrace eternity," presumably to help focus the partner's mind. Effectively, the Asari and her partner briefly become one unified nervous system, sharing memories, thoughts, and feelings. The offspring is always an asari, regardless of the species or sex of the "father" and in the case that the offspring is of two asari, the father is the one who does not give birth.
Uniquely, the Asari are known to be perceived as attractive to many other species. This may be because of shared physical characteristics. Mordin Solus postulates that the mechanism behind the Asari's cross-species attraction may be neurochemical in nature. The offspring resulting from such interspecies pairings are always asari as no DNA is taken from the partner. Instead, the Asari uses the meld to explore her partner's genetic heritage and pass desirable traits on to any offspring and as a "map" to randomize the genes of the offspring. Additionally, pairings with Krogan are not affected by the Genophage. As such, pairings with Asari are sometimes seen as a way for a krogan to circumvent the Genophage and have children of their own.
The drawback to the asari means of reproduction are the Ardat-Yakshi. These individuals possess a rare genetic defect that causes an asari to overwhelm and destroy her partner’s nervous system when joining. The condition seems to appear only amongst pureblood asari, those whose parents are both asari.
It is also possible for an asari to meld with another for the sole purpose of transferring thoughts, without reproduction. The Asari initiating the meld can both send and receive information. Liara melds with Commander Shepard several times for the purpose of viewing and helping understand the visions Shepard received from the Prothean beacon. Shiala later melds minds with Shepard for the purpose of “uploading” the Cipher into Shepard’s mind in order to help the Commander understand the visions. Liara also states that the melding of minds is a sign of a deep connection between two individuals, something often reserved for friends and family members; it is also a way to say “farewell.”
It is not clear whether ability to meld minds is present from birth or whether Asari undergo some sort of puberty to gain it and, if so, when this occurs. When she first melds minds with Shepard, Liara is 106, quite young for an asari. By the time she is 42, Falere’s Ardat-Yakshi condition had already come to light indicating she had attempted to meld at least once. Morinth’s condition was also discovered by the time she was in her 40s.
Asari Lifecycle[]
History[]
Governments[]
Societies and Cultures[]
Religion[]
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- The Asari share a lot of strong resemblance to modern humans, and have their names classed as Aikkler Covvine'mal indicating they are possibly related to humans. Some theories suggest they could perhaps be the genetic descendants of humans or one f the hominid races before them.
- The Asari helped those who had to adapt to living for centuries caused by the Combine Nanites and structured certain cycles for them